cooper



B. F. COOPER.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1915.

1,306,579. Patented June.10, 1919;

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

B. F. COOPER.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED PR.12.1915.

1,306,579. Patenfed June 10, 1919.

4 SHEETSFSFEET 2.

B. F. COOPER.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1915.

Patent-ed June 10, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. F. COOPER.

TRACTOR.

APPLLCATION FILED APR. 1'2. 191s.

Patented June 10, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

alumnus UNITED STATES ratrunrorrica.

smnmm 1. mm, or

STEDMAN AND ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE E. WAGNER, BOTH. OF CASSOPOLIS, H ICHIGAN.

Cassapolis, inthe county of. Cass and State of Michigan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Tractors;'and I do.

hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the. invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in traction engines, and is primarily designed for use in connection with certain agricultural implements and other useful road work, such as hauling and the like.

.The gist of my invention isthe production of a self-propelled vehicle of the tractor type in which novel means is provided forf;

easily and effectively turning and steering.

the vehicle, so that turns of varying'radii,

and especially those of a short'nature, can

be readily accomplished with aminimum amount of manual control and in a very short period of time.

Another -ob ect of my; invention is to 'produce' a tractor, including means for readily locating the center aboutwhich the vehicle is to turn, the said means including a rotatable lead wheel of novel construction.

A further object of my invention is the.

production of a traction engine in which the power used for the propulsion of the vehicle is transmitted by novel devices to certain;-

portions of the tractor mechanism when the turning of the tractor is to be effected in a predetermined direction. j My invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved tractor in the position for straightaway traveling.

Fig. 2- is a similar view with the upper portion and parts of the platform broken away to show the several clutch mechanisms and the support for the lead wheels.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. i: is a fragmentary plan view of the front part of the tractor illustrating the Specification of Letters Patent.

cassoroms, mrcnrenr, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD To 3.1:.

rnechanism when the tractor is to be turned 1 m (mole upon a p ie circumference a of which circleis'circumscribed by the lead wheel.

Fig. 5 the several positionslinto which the lead wheel is placed when it is desired to make is a diagrammatic illustrationlarger turns than that shown in Fig. 4, the I dotted lines illustrating the position of the lead wheel when the tractor is-to turn upon a point when the transverse center line of the rear wheels and acorresponding center line drawn through the' lead wheel axis intersect at the center of one of the rear wheels; and thedot and dash lines, showing another position when the turnis to be made, is still larger around-a point without the tractor where the lines intersect ,as shown. v v

Fig. 6 is an: enlarged detail sectional view on line 6- 6 of Fig. 4 showing the clutch members carried by the main power shaft of the tractor and the lead wheel in engagement when the lead wheel is in the position shown in said figure.

Fig. 7 is a'detail section on the line 7-'7 revolves the lead wheel, and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one IOf the locking devices employed upon the rear. wheels'of the tractor.

" My improvedtractor comprises a. frame and supporting platform, two spaced rear wheels to which power is transmitted from asuitable engine carried upon the platform for drivingthe'tractor, a lead wheel mounted within a roller bearing turntable support, the said wheel having clutching means for receiving power from the engine when a very short turn is to be made, and a system of levers, clutches and steering mechanism for operating the several parts, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The engine and operating levers are preferably located upon the rear portion of the Referring to the, drawings: The main frame of the tractor'consists of an outer bar structure 1, arranged to extend horizontally 5 positiqn of the lead Wheel and the clutch of the rear wheels at the sides 2, trans e s ly 1 0 at the end 3, and slightly ofise to partially as at 4. Positioned Within the outer frame driving shaft 22. The springs are designed .to keep-the matingparts of the respective is an inner bar structure extending par-,

ywith each other until withdrawn by the 'allel withthe rear "wheelsfas a5 6,. transversely of the',-"tractor' as at" 7 and ofiset I upon one side tosubstantially encircle the y roller bear-ingturning device as at"8'. 'These fit frame sections. maybe bent. from continuous single bars, or they may formed of shorter length and otherwise suitably joined.

This main frame is designed to support the platform 11, and the other parts mech .anism hereinafter described.

Mounted upset cross shaft 12 withinthepj main frame bearing brackets 13 are the rearwheels-14f and 15. These wheels: are

1 of theiusualcon'struction, being of di'fiering' Widths and provided Withthe traction cleats as will b'ereadily 'understood. Seeuredto 1 wheels 16 and-17, around which pass the sprocket chains 18 and 19 to smaller sprocket wheels 20; and 21mounted upon the. main drivingshaft' 22, 1 v 1 a p This main drlvingfshafi tends trans- -verselybf the tractor and'is supported by "the side framesthrough brackets .23. A

center bearing? support 24 also serves to en port the central portioriof thesaid sha Power is-transmitted tothis shaft through the sprocket wheels 25 mounted thereon, and. around which pass sprocket chains 26 4 cured to the the operator;

Y to suitable sprocket wheels 27 provided upon each end of the engine shaft 28. The engine 29 maybe of any standard type, and is seplatform within the control of Cooperating with the small sprocket wheels 20 and 21 are clutchingmembers 30 and 31. Each of these clutching members comprises spring-actuated partscapable of engagement when the power is transmitted for driving the tractor.

Positive movement under the control of operating levers is also provided for the manipulation of these respective clutches.

The devices for this positive control comprise sliding sleeves 32 keyed to the shaft '22 by the pins 33', adapted to reciprocate thereon by reason of the slots 34. Grooved collars 35 are formed on one end of each sleeve in which operate the forked'ends of bell-crank levers 36 pivoted at 37 to respective brackets depending from the frame. To the opposite end of the bell-crank levers 36 rods 38 extend rearwardly to operating hand levers 39 positioned upon the rear of the grips the rear -wheels are the respective sprocket clutch members 30 and 31 in engagement operation of the hand levers from the platform of the tractor. Byv this construction it. will be seenthat the transmission of the; power from 1 the driving shaft 22 can be directed through the small sprocket wheels to bother the rear-wheels 14 and 15 simultaneously, to one only, or to neither, accord.

ing to theconditions under which the tractor is to be turned or operated.

In order to disengage the respective clutch members 30 and, 31 simultaneously, I pro vide a mechanism comprising a disk 44 mounted upon a pivot 45 projecting from a; bracket carried by the bearing 24. This disk is arranged to oscillate about the pivot 45. Cables 46 are connected to the disk con- "centrically thereof, and extend to the forked arms of the bell-crank levers 36 where they.

are secured. A rod 47 is connected to the disk 44 and extends rearw ardly to the lower portion of a hand operating lever 48 where it is connected. The hand lever 48 projects through the platform of the tractor and can V be readily manipulated by the operator. A

' suitable pawl and segment 49 is provided upon this lever, and the usual hand grip is provided for its operation in the ordinary manner. When it is desired to simultaneously disengage both clutch members 30 and 31, this hand lever is operated. The disengagement'of these members occurs when the lead wheel is to be used as the propelling means for turning thetractor as will more fully hereinafter appear. v

' Theclutching mechanism and the means for transmitting power to this front lead wheel will now be described. Keyed to the main shaft 22'is a bevel gear 50 adapted to mesh with a similar gear 51 keyed to a short shaft 52 positioned longitudinally of the tractor in bearing 53. The bearing is formed as apart of the bracket 54 depending from the frame of the tractor, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Keyed to, and slidably mounted upon, this shaft 52 is a sleeve 55 provided intermediate its length with a groove 56 for the reception of the forked ends of a lever 57. This lever is pivoted at 58 upon a bracket depending from the frame, and at its opposite end is secured to one end of a rod 59 extending rearwardly to a hand lever 60. This hand lever projects upwardly through the platform of the tractor and is within the reach of the operator. A pawl and segment 61 are associated with the lever in the usual manner. and can be readily operated when the hand grip of the lever is manipulated by the operator. This lever is designed to throw the clutch member 62 carried by the sleeve 55 into and out of engagesaid shaft and bevel gears 50 and 51' and the flanges 64 and 65 preferably formed integral with the sleeve 55. Mounted between these flanges are projectingfspring-actuated pins 66. These-pins are held within the tubes 67 and are provided with adjustable collars68.

These collars. prevent the pins-from becoming dislocated. They also receive the force of the springs 69 upon one side thereof in keeping the pins extended.

. The mating clutch member carried by the shaft 70 upon. which the lead wheel is mounted, comprises a disk 7l'provided with a hub 72 through whichthe securing. screw 73 passes. Openings 74 are. provided in this disk 71 and they are diametrically disposed to receive the pro'ecti pins 66.

In the operation of t is c utch the lead ,wheel is rotated by means,

resentlyto be described, until the shaft alines, with the short shaft 52. .The clutch member'62 is withdrawn while this operation istaking place, and it is not until the shaft 70 with the clutch member 63 is brought into 'ali'ne- V I ment that the hand lever 60 is operated, the

lever 57 moved and the sliding sleeve 55carrying the pins 66 is moved forward'into enagement with the clutch member 63.

hould the openings 74 in the disk 71 not be" in register with the pins66, they will be pressed inwardl 'upon contacting with the surface of the disk against the action of the springs 69 until the motive power has sufficiently rotated the clutch member 62' to' cause them to spring into the said openings,

' whereby causing the shaft 70 to rotate with the short shaft 52, as will be readily understood. -In order 'to facilitate the alinement of shaft 70with shaft 52, the sleeve is provided with an internally formed conerecess 75. As the clutch member 62- is brought forward it will be seen that the projecting end '76 of shaft will. be directed into alinement with shaft 52.

When the lead wheel is so coupled with the driving shaft 22 it will be seen that as the motive power is applied through the clutch mechanism just described, that the rotation of the lead wheel is effected and the tractor is turned upon a center determined by the intersection of the center line of the lead wheel and the transverse center line of the rear wheels. It will also .be noted that the respective clutches 30 and 31 of the rear wheels are disengaged and that the source of power is alone taken through the lead wheel. In this position of the parts, the shortest turn ossible is secured. A turning of this nature is very advantageous, especially when the tractor is used for plowing and other similar agricultural purposes.

The plow, for example, shown diagrammatically in dotted lines in Fig. 3, is preferably arranged so that the point is in the transverse center line of the rear wheels and spaced from and between the said wheels, a

. distahce corresponding to the desired width of the furrow and other predetermined measurements of location required for the particular kind of farming for which it is used' It may be noted, however, in this connection that .thelead wheel is shown to one side of the center of the tractor. This I find advantageous, because the location of the plow can be readily determined at a I substantially central point of the tractor and in no way interferes with. the turning of the tractor around the shortest radius above described. The plow is preferably j i arranged to one side of this central line drawn through the lead wheelso that when the shortest turn is made the point of the furrow. v i

In connection with theturning of the tractor, I provide locking device's, one'of which I locate upon each rear wheel'and the other at the central turning point; The lockin'gde vices uponthe rear wheels may be of any preferred construction, and I do'not limit ,myself to the .exact construction herein "-ishown. These devices are mounted upon a "cross-bar 77 extending upwardly from the main frame and bridging the platform near plow will be ready for the succeeding the rear of the tractor at a-convenient height thereabove. Asshown (see Fig. 8), the devices comprise levers 78 pivotally arranged upon one side of the cross-bar and provided 3 i -'lever and permits of the'holding of the shoe in any position, as'will be readil "understood. The purpose of these ing devices is to prevent the'skldding or other- Wise movement of the tractor when a turn is being made, as for example, if avturn is to be made around the center a upon the' device upon the' and the shoe 7 9 from the turning point. Should the turn be I made with the opposite rear wheel as the center, the opposite lockin device will be operated in like manner. he locking device which I provide atthe intersection of the central lines of the lead wheel and rear wheels comprises a vertically arranged pole or post 82,.suitab1y uided through the plat- "ment 86. A pin and slot connection 87 proform 11, the crossbar 77 and by an elongated slot 83, through which the supporting axle of the rear wheels of the trac tor extends. This post is pointed at its lowermost end and is adapted to be forced into the ground by the lever 84 pivotally I su ported at 85 .upon the platform and provi ed with the usual locking pawl. and segvides for the reciprocation of the post'ver- 'tically. This locking device is operated when thetractor is making the shortest turn possible around the center I), when the motive power is transmitted to the lead wheel,

as has been heretofore described. When the post is in place in the ground the tractor is prevented from skidding or movin out of the'desired turning position. Witl i of the tractor. Upon each end of the shaft is keyed a drum 90 around which are wound chains 91 and 92, respectively, These chains pass, 'one above and the other beneath the respective drums, and at one end are secured to the said drums, and at their other respective ends are fastened to the turntable at 93 and 94. Suitable tubular guides 95 are lo- 1 cated upon each side of the tractor and direct p shaft 99 positioned in suitable bearin the passage of the chains from the turntable to the winding drums.

The operating means for rotating the shaft 89 consists 'of a sprocket wheel 96 keyed to the said shaft, a chain 97 passing over the said sprocket wheel and around a similar sprocket wheel 98 mounted'upon a 100 upon the cross bar 77. Upon the end 0 this I "shaft 99 a hand wheel 101 is provided. A

rotation of this hand wheel by the operator will revolve the shaft 89 and thereby effect the winding of one chain and the unwinding of the other chain, and as a consequence the positioning of the lead wheel carried by the turn table in the direction which is desired to be traversed.

The easy manipulation of the lead wheel is produced by the novel form of roller bearing turntable which comprises an upper anu ar member 102, suitably grooved as at 103 to receivethe chains 90 and 91, and a lower annular member 101 secured to the upper member 102 by the verticall arranged bolts 105 passing through space inwardly projectin lugs 106 upon the said members.

out the employment of such a device there would be a tendency to dislodge the tractor, upon the Rollers 107 are arranged upon these bolts 105 and bear horizontally against the inner .wall of the inner bar frame section 5 of the and inner frame structures constituting the main frame. As shown, these rollers are provided upon the forward half of the turntable, but I do not limitmyself to the exact location of said rollers, for other similar and convenient constructions can be readily provided. Spacing blocks 109 are provided'between the inner' and outer bar frames. These are also interposed as one form of constructing the several parts.

- B this construction it will be seen that astlie turntable is operated by the handwheel 101, the upper member 102 will be turned in one direction. By reason of the connected parts and rollers the entire turntable will be easily moved until the lead wheel reaches the position desired.

As shown in Fig. 5 the position of this wheel determined the center upon which the tractor is to turn. This center can be lo rated at any point in the transverse center line of the rear wheels and may be between the wheels, at either wheel, or outside of either of said wheels, as indicated at a.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that adaptable for use as an agricultural implement, or as part of the power equipment only. i

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a traction engine-of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with rear wheels, with a power transmission mechanism including a motor, a power shaft connected to said motor, independent means for connecting the power shaft to either of the rear wheels for propelling and turning the tractor, and a rotatable frame carrying a steering wheel and a clutch member, said clutch member adapted to be connected with/the power shaft through the turning ofthe steering wheel.

2. In a traction engine of the class described, the combination of a frame having rear wheels, with a power transmittingmechanism including a motor, a power shaft her to the power shaft for turning and propelling the tractor around a center within a less radius than the length of the machine throu h the steering wheel.

3. n a traction engineof the class described, the combination of a frame provided with rear wheels, a power mechanism including a motor, a power shaft connected to said motor, independent means for connecting the power shaft to either of the rear wheels for propelling and turning the tractor, said means including oppositely arranged clutch members provided on said power shaft, a. rotatable frame carrying a steering wheel and a clutch member, and means for connecting said clutch member to the power: shaft.

4. In a traction engine ofthe class described, the combination of a frame provided with rear wheels, and a power. mechanism including a motor, a power shaft connected to said motor, means including independently and simultaneously operated clutches for connecting the said power shaft to either or both of the rear wheels for .propelling and turning the tractor, a rotatable frame carrying a steering wheel and clutch member, and means for connecting the said clutch member to the power shaftfor turning and propelling the tractor when one of the clutches for connecting the power shaft to one of the rear wheels is engaged.

5. In a traction engine of the class described, the combination with a main frame having independently driven rear wheels, of a rotatably mounted frame, a wheel carried by said rotatable frame provided with a clutch member, a transmission mechanism carried by the main frame and independently connected to each of said rear wheels, and means includin a steering mechanism for bringing the w eel carried by the to tatable frame into operative connection with the motive power of either of the rear wheels for propelling and turning the tractor.

'- 6. In a traction engine of the class described, the combination with a main frame having independently driven rear wheels, of a rotat-ably mounted frame, a wheel, carried by said rotatable frame provided with a clutch member, a driving shaft having independently operated clutches for controlling the movement of the tractor through either of said rear wheels, another shaft op.

erated by the driving shaft having a clutch member thereon designed to engage the clutch member provided on the rotatable frame when the wheel carried by the r0- tatable frame is turned at right angles to the rear wheels, and means including a steering mechanlsm for turning the said wheel at right angles.

In a traction engine of the class de scribed, the combination with a main frame having independently driven rear wheels, of a rotatably mounted frame, a wheel carried by said rotatable frame provided-with a clutch member, a driving shaft having independently operated clutches for controleither or both of said wheels, means for 'engaging the said clutches simultaneously, means for engaging either of said clutches independently, and means including a steering mechanism for bringing the aforesaid wheel of the rotatable frame into operative ling the movement'of the tractor through 1 

